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off at all with the wind patterns, or if you over-correct the tiniest bit, you end up kilometers off course.”
    “Not to mention you nearly freeze your ass off,” Jack added.
    “I think we can handle it.” Bob and Jack both studied the man as he confidently made his statement.
    Jack nodded slightly, “We’ll see if that’s true.” He turned back to the file and pulled out the architectural drawings. “Bob, our best guess is that they’re using this large common room as their council chamber. Any meetings will most likely take place there.”
    “Hence the skylight option. We’ll have to be careful on our approach not to block out the moon or stars. They’d be sure to notice.”
    “Agreed. I think if you approach from the south here, you’ll have these spires to block their view.” Jack pointed out the tower that the commandos could use as a staging area. “Wind will be your biggest concern.”
    “Swiss Chicago.” Bob rubbed at his chin as he studied the terrain. Between the winter winds and the buildings altering the natural currents, putting a man on the roof from a HALO jump would be nearly impossible even if he were experienced. Bob glanced around the room again then caught Jack’s eye. “Maybe I ought to be the one to take the roof. We can find another way for the rest of the team.”
    Jack shook his head. “There’s only one other way in and that’s through the front doors.”
    “There’s a good chance we’ll lose men on this one.”
    “That’s what I’m afraid of.” Jack closed the file and stuffed it back into the drawer of his desk. “We have some time to figure this one out. If I know Rufus, he’s still trying to figure out a way to get his foot in the door without losing his head.”
    Bob scratched at the back of his head as he thought. “How solid is our intel?” His eyes searched Jack’s before he clarified. “On the whole death sentence thing, I mean.”
    Jack groaned inwardly. He hadn’t told all the members of the teams how he came across the information, but it was time Bob knew. “During the showdown in Nevada, I ran into an old friend of mine. I use that term loosely now because the guy was a real snake, but in the end, his intel was good. He was from the Brit team, and he had been contracted by the council to assassinate Rufus.”
    Bob was taken aback by Jack’s statement. “A team member went mercenary?”
    “They threatened his family and…it got convoluted really quickly. In the end, Sherry came clean with a little persuading, and we scooped his family up, relocating them someplace where the council would never think to look. They’re basically in the witness protection program.”
    “What happened to your buddy?” Bob wasn’t really sure he wanted to know.
    “He walks with a limp now. But that was his doing. He should have been more forthcoming when I asked him to come clean.” Jack showed no emotion when he spoke of the man. What happened between them didn’t sit well with him and left their relationship unrepairable. “We used to be pretty tight, but after he allowed himself to be compromised I just couldn’t…”
    Bob nodded. “You lost respect for him.”
    “That’s one way of putting it.” Jack squared his shoulders and turned to leave the office. “Either way, the intel is solid. We know that the council has their sights set on Rufus. We just have to figure out a way to either change their minds or take them out.”
     
    *****
     
    Little John finished his portion of the debriefing rather quickly. There simply wasn’t much to tell from his part of the operation. Once he was dismissed, he hit the showers and changed into a clean uniform then headed to the lounge where the main portion of the teams were hanging out and unwinding as the night drifted on.
    The men were broken into groups across the room. Some played table tennis; others were playing cards while some sat around the room swapping stories. His eyes scanned the group and settled on